When the existing Intel Core i7 3960X launched almost exactly a year ago, it was the fastest PC processor on Earth. Since then, nothing has come close. AMD, quite frankly, doesn't operate in this part of the market, so it was always going to be down to Intel to raise the bar.

Now it has, and it's hard to imagine how we could be more underwhelmed. How so?

The new 3970X is essentially an upclocked version of the old 3960X. The nominal clockspeed climbs from 3.3GHz to 3.5GHz, while the maximum Turbo speed inches from 3.9GHz to 4GHz. And that, folks, is your lot.